Stop for a moment. Look around you. The forest seems quiet, but in fact it is teeming with life. It’s just that its inhabitants have learned to remain unnoticed.
The Zacharovanyi Krai National Park is home to hundreds of animal species. Ancient forests, clear streams, marshes and volcanic slopes create ideal conditions for rare species, many of which are listed in Ukraine’s Red Book.
Look down at your feet. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a spotted salamander – one of the park’s symbols. Its striking yellow-and-black colouring wards off predators, and it lives only in clean, damp forests.
Now look up. Above the canopy of ancient beech trees, you may occasionally spot a black stork – a very cautious and rare bird. It will never settle near noisy cities, choosing only secluded thickets and clear bodies of water. It is this majestic and proud bird that has become the park’s main symbol, and you can see its image on the official emblem of the Zacharovanyi Krai.
And amongst the damp leaves and fallen trees lies another natural treasure – the Carpathian blue slug – a rare slug with a bright blue body, found only in the well-preserved Carpathian forests. But this is just a fraction of the park’s rich fauna. The area is home to red deer, roe deer, wild boar, wolves, brown bears, and dozens of species of birds, amphibians and insects. Listen carefully. Every sound in this forest is a sign of life. We are merely guests, and nature reveals its secrets to those who know how to be attentive and do not disturb its tranquillity.